can my dog die from an infected nail?

Question

he has chewed off his nail and it is brown there but not full of puss and not infected. it did get infected is it treatable and could he die?

its not infected and he didnt chew off the whole nail, just near the base. he seems fine

Answer 1

I think it's hard to give solid advice on this without understanding why your dog chewed it's nail off. If the dog is leaving the area alone now that the nail is gone, and the site isn't bleeding, you could take a stab at treating it at home. An infection in it's nail is highly unlikely to kill you dog, but it could be pretty painful, so don't put off vet care if it starts to get red, inflamed, or begins to secrete puss.

As for treating your dog at home, don't use peroxide if the site isn't bleeding. Peroxide will break down the scab and cause the wound to start bleeding again. Use warm, soapy water to gently clean the area. Then put some neosporin or other topical antibacterial ointment on the spot. Your dog will probably end up licking it off so don't use too much. Clean it like this twice a day.

The only thing a vet may do differently prior to infection is prescribe a topical disinfectant, and maybe put a wrapping on the paw if it keeps re-opening. If the spot doesn't stop bleeding, keeps re-opening, or starts showing any of the above signs of infection, take your dog to a vet so they can treat it. I'd advise against wrapping it yourself. Dog feet tend to get wet, and a damp, warm bandage next to the site of a wound would be a recipe for infection, if handled incorrectly. If a bandage is needed, your dog should go to the doctor.

Good luck.

Answer 2

It's worth checking with your vet to find out why the dog may have done it in the first place, but if it does get infected it is definately treatable as long as you treat it promptly. Also, yes, your dog can most certainly die from an infection. If the infection spreads out of the wound site and into the blood stream, in humans as well as dogs, it is extremely serious. Blood-born infection can kill quite quickly.

Answer 3

'He seems fine' - oh well then, he must be.

How about taking your dog to the vet BEFORE infection sets in - which is likely. Yes it's possible for an animal to die from any infection if the bacteria gets in to their blood. But there are other things besides death that are bad you know - like pain for instance!

Infections are treatable, but only by vets because they require antibiotics.

Chalice

Answer 4

Yes he sure can. Anyone (people too) can die of an infection if it goes on too long. It is called sepis, or blood poisoning, because after awhile it poisons the blood and basically shuts the body down.

Take him to the vet. As dangerous as it could be if it isn't treated, it is actually easily treatable. It'll be a round of antibiotics and you will both feel better.

He can't take himself to the doctor, so he's relying on you to do the right thing.

Answer 5

Yes any infection of any sort can kill. You'll need to get him/her to the vet and find out why he chewed off the nail. Does it have some sort of other problem? And then get him/her on meds.

Also dogs can bleed out from a torn nail.

Answer 6

Get him to a Vet as soon as possible. Until then keep the nails clean and put on some kind of cream like Neosporin and keep them covered.

Answer 7

Clean the area with peroxide just as you would for a person. See what happens. If it bubbles then it's infected if it doesn't then put a little neosporin on it then try to wrap it and keep an eye on it. And of course if it gets worse go to the vet.

Answer 8

why not take the dog to the vet instead and ask a vet? infections are bad.

Answer 9

Can you win the lottery OR be struck by lightning?
The odds are the same.....ASTRONOMICAL!!!
DON'T freak over NOTHING!

Answer 10

jus ask a vet wat 2 do. he shud b ok